Rochester building panel discusses school renovation proposals

ROCHESTER — Thursday night, the Building Committee met to discuss new advancements in the space study project for renovations to existing schools throughout the district.

The space study was commissioned by the district last spring and was completed in October 2011. Recommendations include altering the East Rochester School building, where the city’s preschool is located, and adding a sizable addition to the Chamberlain Street and William Allen schools. Another space study is being considered for Spaulding High School.

The committee expressed its interest in pursuing in projects for four elementary schools. Superintendent Michael Hopkins discussed renovations for the Nancy Loud School and Rochester Middle School guidance suite as well as new bathrooms for the multipurpose room in the Gonic School, a new bathroom system with handicapped stalls, a new intervention room and a revamped ventilation system for the Maple Street Magnet School.

He noted the district will hope to go out to bid for the projects in the spring, with the hope of starting and ending construction during the summer.

Business Administrator Linda Casey added the four projects would require a bond of about $282,000.

Other future projects for the board include updating the security at Spaulding High School and their 55 exterior doors as well as acquiring an estimate for renovations to the East Rochester School. Hopkins said he had reached out to Eckman Construction for a returned estimate this month.

“The next step is we would probably extend to the Building Committee where we try to put East Rochester and the high school in some type of priority order,” he said.

During public comment, resident Robert Gates and his wife, Doris, approached the committee with concern for taxpayers’ wallets. Gates said with increased taxes next year from the federal government, he is concerned for those in Rochester who may not be able to afford much more.

“I want to bring this up because the bonding is going to cost the citizens,” he said. “All this taxing may put some people in a bad financial situation. I would just ask you to consider the overall picture when you consider doing these projects, relative to the cost to the taxpayer.”

Doris Gates added while she has been in support of many of the school renovations, including the high school and the East Rochester School projects, she was surprised to see these additional projects come forward now. Hopkins said they were previously approved by the City Council, though.

“We’re already talking a major expense in East Rochester … Now we’re at a $10 million to $15 million cost with site work and all the other things,” she said, “That’s a big burden to ask the taxpayer.”